Cannabis could be legalised in the UK within FIVE YEARS say cross-party group of MPs – including Lib Dem Norman Lamb who took oil during visit to Canada that would be illegal in the UK
- Jonathan Djanogly, Sir Norman Lamb and David Lammy appear in a BBC documentary
- They went to Canada to investigate its drug laws on recreational cannabis use
- Lib Dem Sir Norman used a THC oil that would be illegal in the UK
A cross-party group of MPs said today they believe cannabis could be legalised in the UK within as little as five years time.
Conservative Jonathan Djanogly, Liberal Democrat Sir Norman Lamb and Labour’s David Lammy spoke out after visiting Canada, where the drug has been legalised, for a BBC documentary.
Sir Norman, whose party already backed the decriminalisation of the drug, also used the trip to try a cannabis oil on camera that would be illegal in the UK.
The politicians differed in their estimations of the length of time it would take for the UK to allow recreational use of cannabis, which Canada became the first G7 country to do last year.
Mr Lammy and Sir Norman both said they believed the drug would be legalised in about five years.
David Lammy (pictured) and Sir Norman both said they believed the drug would be legalised in about five years
The politicians differed in their estimations of the length of time it would take for the UK to allow recreational use of cannabis (being smoked, above)
The Labour MP for Tottenham shifted his stance on the drug, moving away from his party’s official position to one of backing legalisation.
‘I want the market legalised, regulated and taken away from crime gangs,’ the Tottenham MP told the BBC’s Newsbeat.
‘I want to see the strength of the stuff reduced, labelled and properly organised in this country.’
But Mr Djanogly – whose party is opposed to liberalising drugs laws – was more cautious.
‘I think we have got a lot to learn before the legalisation of recreational cannabis, which I think will happen at some point,’ he said, adding that he thought legalisation would occur between 10 and 15 years in the future.
Sir Norman (above, centre) became possibly the first serving British MP to openly take a cannabis product on camera after sampling the drug’s oil
Mr Djanogly – whose party is opposed to liberalising drugs laws – was more cautious than his Labour and Lib Dem counterparts
The three MPs travelled to Canada on a trip organised by UK harm reduction group Volte Face, with part sponsorship by cannabis company MPX. Sir Norman and Mr Lammy funded their own flights and accommodation.
Sir Norman had previously led his party’s decision to back the legalisation of cannabis.
He became possibly the first serving British MP to openly take a cannabis product on camera after sampling the drug’s oil, which unlike its form in the UK included the active ingredient THC.
THC is a compound within cannabis which gets users high.
‘I was really anxious because I was chairing the technology and and science select committee and I was travelling back over night, and I thought if I get back with no sleep it will be a challenge,’ Sir Norman told the BBC.
‘I slept incredibly well.
‘I took the drops and I slept very well on the plane home, I actually slept through breakfast.’
Cannabis is illegal for recreational use in the UK, although it can be prescribed for medicinal purposes.